Is fear holding you back?
“But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak (of great stature and courage).”
— Numbers 13:28 (AMP)
My friend was expressing her concerns over her granddaughter’s fears. It brought back memories of some of my own childhood fears.
Like many children, fear of the dark sent chills down my spine and made me want to run and hide under the bed. The only problem was, I was afraid there might be something under the bed as well.
I have matured and outgrown those childhood fears. I realize how untrue and limiting they are. As proven by many of our forgotten childhood phobias, many of our fears are not reality. They are what is noted in the popular acronym for fear as “False Evidence Appearing Real.”
Fear of failure likes to torment all age groups, and is not unique to our generation. The biblical prophet Moses sent 12 men to search out the land that was overflowing with prosperous opportunities. But 10 of the men came back scared with reports that the people were giants and appeared unconquerable.
There are giants to contend with in every field we choose to pursue. The field in which we work has its challenges and obstacles to overcome — even parents contend with competing with the image of super mom or dad.
However, if we shrink back in fear like the 10 men who researched the promised land, we won’t be able to see the fulfillment of God’s promise for our desires, hopes and dreams.
When fears threaten us, we should ask God for guidance to discern any falsehood surrounding the object of our fears; we need to know if it is something that we should use caution regarding, or not.
Many people never confront issues that have held them back; therefore, they never conquer them. This is a tactic the enemy of our souls uses to hold us back.
Each time we take a step out of our comfort zone and exercise our faith — like the child shaking in the dark — we will be gaining ground and combating fear step by step.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Annettee will be presenting “Goal Writing is the Blueprint to Your Dreams” from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Panera Bread Round Lake Beach. Registration is suggested but not necessary. Email Annetteebudzban@aol.com